A 'Thriller' of a South River football game

This may be the year of the zombie.

First, the novel "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" took off. Next, the film "Zombieland" got great reviews.

And now, students and faculty at South River High School in Edgewater are trying to set a world record by performing the ultimate undead dance, Michael Jackson's "Thriller," at their football game next Friday against Chesapeake High School.

Jackson's 1982 album, "Thriller," is the best-selling album of all time, and the music video it spawned was considered groundbreaking at the time.

"This is a good thing for senior year," said Alex Varga, 17, practicing her zombie moves at a rehearsal yesterday. "So I can say, 'You know what I did senior year? I did the 'Thriller' dance.' "

The idea to go for a record came from Gerald Cavanaugh, South River's instrumental music teacher. Last year his marching band surprised halftime watchers by breaking into the "Thriller" dance at a football game on Halloween.

But this year, he's taking it a step further.

Already Cavanaugh has submitted extensive paperwork to Guinness World Records and lined up local officials to bear witness to the event. The dance also will be a tribute to Jackson, who died in June, and a fundraiser for the band, as students and faculty are donating $2 to participate.

"My hope is not only does it help bring the school together, but it also becomes a tradition," he said.

His students will be up against some tough "Thriller" competition.

Tomorrow at Baltimore's Inner Harbor, about 250 people are expected to perform the dance from "Thriller" during a tribute to Jackson.

In Mexico City in August, 13,597 people performed the dance and broke the world record, said a spokesman for Guinness World Records in New York City.

There's no way can South River muster such a dance troupe, so instead students are trying to set a new world record for having the most people at a high school dance to "Thriller" while the song is played live by the marching band, Cavanaugh said. They're also trying to set county and state records.

But while about 340 students and faculty have signed up to participate, just 10 turned out for the second of four rehearsals yesterday. The rest, Cavanaugh is certain, will turn out later for additional rehearsals.

Undaunted, the 10 polished their moves on South River's tennis courts, under cloudy skies and in the shadow of football practice by the school's team, the Seahawks. Following Cavanaugh's directions and Jackson's beat, they shuffled their feet, swiveled their hips and cast vacant stares.

"You do, like, zombie claws," Cavanaugh told them. "Like rigor mortis has set in."

Students said they plan to dress up like zombies or monsters for their performance. Senior Hannah Hensley said her friends might go as dead Disney princesses.

"I'm probably going to rip something, splatter it with paint," said Wendy Santafianos, 17.

As the game approaches, preparations are stepping up. The marching band is practicing, and the sounds of "Thriller" have greeted students every day over the morning announcements.

And everyone from Gov. Martin O'Malley to state schools Superintendent Nancy S. Grasmick and county Superintendent Kevin Maxwell has been invited. So far, they have not accepted.

But will it all come together as planned - a perfect melding of zombies, music, Michael and school spirit? According to students who already have perfected their undead moves, it will.

"It better," Hensley said.